Cuttack: Supply of essential commodities to Cuttack Malgodown, the state's largest wholesale market, was adversely affected as truckers from Odisha took part in the indefinite nationwide strike called by the country's apex transporters' body, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), from Friday.
Cuttack Chamber of Commerce secretary Prafulla Chatoi told The Telegraph that the truckers strike would have a crippling effect on movement of goods into Malgodown with the strike entering its second day on Saturday.
"Around 50 trucks carrying essential goods had reached Malgodown before the trucks went off the roads. So the impact will be felt after another day," Chatoi said.
The AIMTC had given the nationwide strike alleging that the government had failed to address their issues, including toll barriers.
"About two lakh trucks across the state have joined the indefinite strike from Friday to press for its demand for removal of toll gates from the country," general secretary of the state's apex body for truckers, Odisha State Truck Owners Federation (OSTOF) Rabi Narayan Satapathy told The Telegraph.
The supply line of essential commodities - mostly grains, pulses, edible oils and sugar - from outside the state to Malgodown is maintained by more than 60 trucks.
"Though there are stocks of essential commodities that will last for 10 days, the situation will change if retailers lift increased quantities taking into consideration the truckers' strike," Chatoi said.
A wholesaler said: "The problem will aggravate if the strike continues for three to four days. This will also lead to increase in prices of essential commodities at the retail level."
Malgodown sources said stocks of rice and sugar are maintained with import of 10 to 15 trucks and 10 to 12 trucks every day.
More than 15 trucks of edible oil are imported on a daily basis. Four to five trucks carrying consignments of pulses from outside the state reach the wholesale market every day, the sources said.
The OSTOF general secretary said: "We have joined the strike as the transport fraternity cannot sustain operations with the heavy loss caused due to time delays at toll barriers."
He said the government could very well compensate the revenue loss due to closure of toll gates by way of indirect taxation.
